clark



Patented Aug. 1, 1882.

N4 PETERS, Phum-ulhu m hur. Washington. D. c.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets- 81mm; 2.

W. H. CLARK.

TRAGK GLE-ARBE.

No. 261,909. Patented Aug. 1, 1882.

u. PETERS. Phmumnpm wmn n. a

(No Model.) 4Sheets-Shet3.

W. H. CLARK TRACK GLEARBR.

NO. 261 909. Patented Aug. 1, 1882.

M I Int/611K0 7:

- 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

W. H. CLARK.

TRACK OLEARER.

No; 2 1,909 ,Patented Aug. 1, 1882.

UNITED STATES PATENT QEEICE.

WILLIAM H. CLARK, OFCHIOAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND I JAMESK. LAKE, OF SAME PLACE.

TRACK-CLEARER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 261,909, dated August1, 1882.

Application filed April 10, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. GLARK,1'-siding at Chicago, in the county of Uookand State of Illinois, and acitizen of the United States, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Track-Olearers, of which the fo1lowing is a full description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is atop or plan view of the frameto work at one end of a car with thescrapers and their devices thereto attached; Fig. 2, an under side viewof the parts shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a rear end elevation with theframework of the car in section; Fig. 4, a side elevation; Fig. 5, alongitudinal section Fig. 6, a detail of the foot-lever; Fig. 7, adetail of the side connection.

This invention relates to scrapers primarily designed for use withstreet-cars for removing snow, ice, mud, and other obstructions from thetracks or rails, and has for its object to 10- onto the scraping-platediagonal of the track, and give each plate a line of draft in thedirection in which it stands, and a lateral or transverse brace orsupport to overcome side pressure in use, and atthe same time have eachplate capable of rising to pass over ine qualities of the track orstreet without affectin g the position of the other plate, while, when 0desired, both plates can be thrown up into position to be out of use,and have the devices by which these results are obtained simple inconstruction, easily applied to the car, and

well adapted to resist the strain and thrust in 5 use; and its'natureconsists in providing each scraping-plate with a diagonal draw-bar, theforward end of which is loosely connected with alongitudinal shaft; inproviding transverse or lateral bars, onefor each scrapin g-plate,having 0 the outer ends connected with the opposite side of the car tothat on which its plate is located;

in providing a longitudinal shaft located beneath the body of the car,and supporting the forward ends of the diagonal draw-bars, and

5 having yielding connections to prevent breakage in case thescraping-plate comes "in too solid contact with an obstruction; inprovid-' ing springs or yielding connections for the transverse orlateral supporting-bars to allow of a yielding movement in case of tooheavy sidepressure in providing a foot-treadle, rockshaft,lifting-pulley, and chains or cords for raising and lowering thescraping-plates, and

in the several parts and combinations of parts hereinafter specificallypointed out, and set forth as new in the claims.

In the drawings, A A represent the scrapers, each of which may be madeof'a plate of malleable iron or other suitable material, which can becast or otherwise formed into thedesired 6o shape. Asshown,theyareeachformed slightly concave in cross-section, and at their forwardend have a downward-projecting lip or lug, which, when the scraper is inposition, is in proper location with the rail to clear the inner I faceof the rail; but these scrapers may be otherwise formed so long as theyare adapted to do the required work. The forward upper portion of eachscraper is prolonged somewhat, and forms an ear or socket, a, for theattachment of the draw-bar, and on the inner face of each scraper, nearthe forward end, isa projection or ear, 0, for the attachment of theside-pressure-resistin g bars. These parts a-c can be of some other formand arrangement than shown, or they can be dispensed with and the drawbar and pressure-resisting bars attached directly to the face of thescraper.

B B arethedraw-bars for therespectivescrapers A A. Each of these barsmay be made ofa 0 piece of wrought-iron orother suitable material, ofsufficient dimensions toresist the draw of the scraper in use. The rearend of the bar B is bolted or otherwisefirmly secured to the neck orsocket on of the scraper A, and the rear end 8 5 of the bar B issimilarly attached to its scraper A, and in order to increase thestrength of the attachment, it a plain neck is used, ribs or flanges maybe formed thereon, forming a recess in which the end of the draw-barwill fit, by which means vertical play will be prevented and the unionmade more rigid and firm than with bolts simply. The forward end of thebar 13 is provided'with a head, I), which may be formed with the bar orof an independ- 5 cut piece attached thereto by bolts or rivets, or insome other firm manner, a simila'rhead,

I), being also provided for the bar B, and these heads, when made ofindependent pieces, may be provided. with a recess to receive the eachcurved to receive the end of the bar, so

as to make a strong union or attachment.- If desired, the inner end ofeach bar might be turned at right angles and be bolted or riveteddirectly to the scraper; or the attachment could be made in some othersuitable manner that would be strong and firm. The outer ends of thesebars 0 G" terminate, when the parts are together, at or near theopposite side of the car to that of the scraper attached to the innerends. The outer end of the bar (J is provided with a head or enlargedportion, 01, which may be formed with the bar or may beaniudependentpiece attached thereto by means of bolts, rivets, or in anyother firm manner, and the outer end of the bar 0 is also provided witha head or enlarged portion, (1, similar to the head or enlarged portion01 ot' the bar 0, and when made of an independent piece a socket orrecess may be provided in each head to receive the end of the bar andsecure a stronger and firmer attachmen t. These bars 0 G, with theirheads (1 d, are to be made of wrought-iron or other suitable material,and of sutficient dimensions to not bend or curve easily in use from thepressure of the scrapers.

The head dis provided with a stem or circularfrom the scrapers A A tothe transverse pressure-bars G G for the purpose of furnishingadditional strength to resist the pressure on the scraperin use.

13 E are curved bars extending respectively from the bars B B to thebars 0 (J for the purpose of furnishing an additional bracing for thescrapers. These braces D D E E could be arranged in some other mannerthan that shown, and are simply for the purpose of insurin g a properbracing of the scraping-plates to resist the pressure in use.

F F are brackets or hangers, one located on eachside of the car andattached, as shown,

brackets or hangers F F is placed or located a piece of. rubber or othermaterial, 0 or c, that other suitable manner.

will yield or give under pressure. The bars 0 O are attached to theirrespective hangers F F by passing the stem or shank of the heads of thebars through the opening in the bracket or hanger and securing it inposition by means of a suitable nut on thescrew-threaded end of the stemor shank, and when attached the rubber or other material, e or c,interposed between the head of the bar and its bracket on each side willgive or yield, allowing the scrapingplates to yield in case of the platemeeting a too strong resistance that might break or in-- jure it ordestroythe connections.

G is a rock-shaft extending longitudinally of the car at the endthereof, and located in line, or nearly so, with the center of the car,which shaft may be made of round iron or other suitable material, orfora portion of'its length may be square. A coil-spring, g, is locatedon this shaft, one end to engage-the face of the inner one of the headsI) b, andthe other is held by a pin, g, passing through the rockshaft G.This spring 9 is to be of 'sufficient length to allow of the requiredamount of yield in case the scraper meets a too strong resistance, andis to be sufliciently strong to prevent any yielding under ordinarycircumstances, and resist the natural draw of the scraper in use. Acoil-spring is shown, buta bumper of rubber or other suitable materialcould be used, and some other means than the pin g could be used for theend of thespring or bumper to rest against. The heads bib are mountedloosely on the rock-shaft G, the shaft passing through the openingineach head, giving the draw-bars a pivotal or loose connection with therock-shaft, bywhich the scrapers are free to rise and fall, each drawbarbeing independently connected. The connection ot' the bars 0 G with thebrackets F F, therefore, should be such as to permit the scrapers torise and fall freely. As shown, this connectionis made byproviding theinner face of each bracket at the point where the bar enters with asocket or recess, into which the end of the cushion enters, which endmay be rounded, and the opening for the stem or shank of the head isenlarged slightly, thus forming a ball-and-socket joint by which therequired movement at the end of the bar is provided.

H H are bearings for the rock-shaft G, one of which, E, is secured tothe under side of the platform-sill and the other secured to the IOC ITO

crossbar of the frame or other portion of the i bottom of the car. Asshown, the bearing H forms a stop to preventforward movement of theheads I) b; but some other device could be used for this purpose, ifdesired. 7

I is a lifting pulley or wheel firmly attached .to the rock-shaft bypassing a screw or pin through its hub h and the shaft, or in any Thiswheel is provided with two grooves, t" i, for the reception of chainsjj.

J J are brackets, one of which, J, is attached by bolts or otherwise tothe side and top of one of the outer platform-supporting bars andcarries a pulley, l, and, as shown, stands at a slight inclinationinorder to bring the pulley in proper positionto do its Work.

The other bracket or hanger, J, is attached by bolts or otherwise to thebottom and side of the platform-supporting bar on the opposite side ofthe car, and carries a pulley, Z. This hangeror bracket depends'from itssupport, and is located properly for the pulley to do its work. Insteadof being attached to the outer platform-supporting bars these bracketscould be attached to thefioor or other portion of the car, and they arearranged so as to bring their respective pulleys in line with therespective grooves i i. t

The pulley I'has on one side a cross bar or piece, is, extending overthe groove 6, and to this cross-piece is attached one end of a chain, j,which chain passes over the pulley l and has its other end attached to aclosed eye, at, on the side or face of the scraper A, and on theopposite side of the pulley is a cross bar or piece, It, extending overthe groove '6, to which one end ofachaimj, is attached, which chainpasses over the pulley l and is attached toa closed eye, m on the sideor face of the scraper A. Instead of cross bars or pieces k 70, suitablepinsor hooks could be used for attaching the ends of the chains jj tothe-pulley, and

' instead of closed eyes at m for attaching the chains to the respectivescrapers studs or books could be used. As shown, the eyes or staples m mare located on the braces D I), respectively, but they could be attacheddirectly to the scrapers. r

K is the cross-sill ofthe platform L, crosssills of the car-frame; L,cross-sills for attaching the inner ends of the platform sills or bars;

M, side sills of the car-frame; N, the sills or bars for supporting theplatform. These parts represented by the letters K'L L M N may be of anyof the usual and well-known forms of construction and arrangement.

The forward end of the rock-shaft G ha attached thereto an arm, n, tothe outer end of which is pivotally connected a bar, 0, which barextends up through a slot, 0, in the sill K, and its upper end isenlarged to form a lo0p,p, for the foot ofthe operator. By means of thisbar 19 o and the crank or arm a the shaft G can be given a rockingmovement, and, as shown, the section 0 of the raising and lowering baror rod is provided on one edge with two notchesor recesses to engage acatch located in the opening 0 and hold the bar in either its raised ordepressed position, and the bar is locked in either position by means ofa latch, g, which can be made to engage the opposite edge of the barfrom that containing the notches and hold the notches in engagement withthe catch, which lock q is so formed as to be thrown in and out ofposition by the foot of the operator.

In applying the scrapers to a car the heads secured to the end of therock-shaft and the foot-treadlc'or bar 01; attached thereto when thedevice is ready for use.

When the cars are not turned'at the end of the line the scrapers withtheir devices are to be applied at both ends; but for'cars that are irun onto a turn-table, so that the same end is forward at all times, thescrapers and their devices need only beapplied at one end.

The operation is as follows: For removing the snow, ice, mud, or otherobstacles from the track the body of each' scraper rests upon the railswith the lip or projection in proximity to the inner face of the rail,and as the car moves along they will act in the usual manner to throwthe material off the track or rail, and when in this position thechainsjj are unwound from the lifting-pulley I, so that each scraper hasperfect freedom of movement,=the foot-treadle beingraised and locked inthat position, so as to hold the roek-shaftGr and pulley I thereonstationary or in a fixed position, preventing any accidental raising ofthe scrapers bythe rock-shaft, pulleys,and chains.

To throw the scrapers up out of use the lock q is disengaged from thebar 0 and the bar forced down by the foot of the operator, whichdownward movement of the bar carries with it the crank a, turning therock-shaft G a portion of a revolution, and with it the pulley I,winding the chains j j thereon in their respective grooves i '5, raisingthe scrapers from the track, and when it is desired to hold the scrapersin an elevated position for any length of time the bar 0 can be lockedin its depressed position by the latch or lock q, holding the rock-shaftand pulley firmly in position, preventing accidental dropping of thescrapers.

Other means than the foot-treadle could be used for operating therock-shaft, and other forms of foot-treadle than that shown could beprovided in use. Afoot-treadle is deemed the most desirable, as by usingone the driver or operator has his hands perfectly free to manage thehorses and attend to the brake.

The journal-bearings H H could be attached otherwise than as shown, solong as they hold the shaft G in position beneath the bottom of the car.

Removable strips of steel could be attached to the lower edge of thescraper and form the acting portion, such strip being attached, by meansof bolts, and, if desired, slots could be provided either in the stripor in the scraper, to permit of the attachment -of the strip tocompensate for wear.

While I have herein shown and described two oblique draw-bars and twotransverse pressure-resisting bars, I do not restrict myself to theemployment of that number, for the reason that a single draw-bar and asingle transverse pressnre-resistin g bar can be used to advantage.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. Thecombination of the diagonally-1rranged draw-bar,the scraper attached tothe rear end of said diagonal bar, and the transverse pressure-resistingbar for attaching the scraper in position and permitting free verticalplay of the same, substantially as described.

2. A scraper or plate, in combination with a diagonal draw-bar, atransverse pressure-resisting bar, a rock-shaft for supporting thedraw-bar, and abracket or hanger located on the opposite side to that ofthe scraper for attachment of the transverse bar, substantially as andfor the purposes specified.

3. The scrapers or plates A A, diagonal draw-bars B B, and transversebars 0 C, in combination with the shaft G and brackets or hangers F F,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. The scrapers or plates A A, diagonal d ra wbars B B, transverse bars0 (J, rock-shaft G, and brackets F F, in combination with the pulley Iand chains j j, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

5. The scrapers or plates A A, diagonal draw-bars B B, transverse bars 00, rockshaft G, and brackets or hangers]? F, in com bination with thepulley I and the grooves ii, chains jj, and pulleys l l, substantiallyas and for the purpose specified.

6. The scrapers or platesA A and diagonal draw-bars B B, having heads I)b, in c01nbi-.

nation with the shaft G and spring or bumper g for allowing the scrapersto yield in case of too great resistance, substantially asspecified.

7. The scrapers or plates A A and transverse independent bars 0 O, incombination with the brackets or hangers F F and springs or bumpers c cfor allowing a yielding movement of the scrapers in case of too greatside pressure, substantially as specified.

8. The scrapers or platesAA,diagonaldrawbars B B, and transversereciprocating bars 0 O, in combination with the shaft G, brackets orhangers F F, and springs or bumpers c c for allowing a yielding movementof the scrapers in use, substantially as and for the purpose specified.Y

9. The scrapers or platesA A, diagonal d rawbars B B, transverseresisting-bars 0 U, and brackets F F, in combination with the rockshaftG, pulley I, having grooves 11 i, chainsj j, pulleys ll, crank n, andfoot-treadle 0 19, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

I WILLIAM H. CLARK.

Witnesses:

ALBERT H. ADAMS, EDGAR T. BOND.

